Read Online Peace by Shelley Shepard Gray - Free Book Online Page A

would mean as much as bringing down a whole gang of criminals.
    She leaned forward. “You should call your parents, Chris.”
    Just like that, his daydream bubble burst. “Beth, I can’t—”
    â€œAll you have to do is call and let them know that you’re okay. You don’t have to tell them where you are.”
    Her naïveté about how modern technology worked made him wish that things really were so simple. “It’s not that easy.”
    â€œI know! You could call them on your cell phone.”
    â€œCell phones can be easily tracked. Besides, I don’t have one. I dumped mine hours before I got here.” He didn’t want to scare her, but he was pretty sure that his parents’ phone lines were being tapped. “I promise, what we’re doing right now? It’s enough. Even talking about my family is more than I’ve let myself do in years.”
    â€œBut I’m sure they’re worried about you. I’m sure your mamm would want to know if you were sick and in bed. Covered with bruises and fighting off a fever. At Christmas, no less!”
    â€œI doubt they even think about me much anymore.” He didn’t want to sound so maudlin, but the simple truth was that she probably had no concept of what it was like to be so alone. Tempering his voice, he said, “Beth, at the moment, I’m tucked away in a lovely inn, sitting next to a beautiful woman.” After debating for a bit, he tried to smile. “If this is the best thing that happens this Christmas I’ll count myself lucky.”
    He was just about to say something else. About to say too much, about to tell her something she wouldn’t be able to handle—like that he loved her—when a sharp rap at the front door startled them both.
    Beth jumped to her feet. Eyes wide, she whispered, “What should I do? Do you think someone’s found you?”
    â€œUm, I don’t think they’d be knocking at the door if they had. At least, not like that. We’d better go find out.”
    Her hands clenched and it was obvious she was attempting to hide her fear.
    He hated that. A thousand recriminations hit him hard. “I’m sorry, Beth, but you’re going to have to go answer it. I’ll be right behind you, though.” Then he tried his best to concentrate only on his gun and his quick inspection of it.
    Pulling on a shirt that she’d left on the end of the bed sometime during the night, he followed her downstairs in his bare feet.
    Just as the knock came again. This time much, much harder.
    â€œBeth?” Mose Kramer called out.
    â€œIt’s the sheriff,” she whispered to Chris. “What should we do?”
    If the sheriff was here, Chris knew he couldn’t embroil her into his mess any further. “You don’t need to do a thing. Go sit down in the kitchen. I’ll deal with him.”
    â€œI’m staying,” she said obstinately.
    â€œBeth? Hello?” the sheriff called out again, this time accompanying his call with a jangle of the doorknob.
    He was out of time. “Suit yourself,” Chris murmured as he turned the dead bolt to the right and finally opened the door with a new, desperate feeling of doom. “Hello, Sheriff,” he said.
    â€œYou,” Mose said, staring at him with a healthy look of disdain. “I should have known.”
    The frigid air burst into the entryway and onto his bare feet. It was so cold he immediately felt the chill. “Want to come in?”
    Mose stepped right through the door, not sparing Chris a second glance. Instead his gaze seemed to be fastened on Beth. “Are you all right?” he asked as he walked toward her, bringing salt and ice onto the wood floor with him.
    â€œMose, take off your boots,” Chris said.
    â€œMy boots are the least of your worries, pup.”
    â€œYou’re tracking snow and ice onto Beth’s clean floor.” To